Crossing the Bridge

Crossing the Bridge

Technology and marketing crossed a bridge into the future this week. Steve Jobs died. We won’t know for many years where that bridge will lead, but we do know that because this unique visionary won’t be on the other side of the bridge, the future has changed for all of us. Steve Jobs himself said that death is part of life renewing itself, providing new directions, new solutions, new visions. We can’t help, though, but to be sad about crossing this particular bridge. Whenever a truly original thinker like Steve Jobs or Walt Disney leaves the world behind, we feel poorer.

However, just as Walt Disney’s death did not prevent the Disney company from reaching new heights, Jobs’ death may yet translate into greater success and more breakthroughs for the company he created. May it be so. Ultimately, his greatest contribution may be Apple’s business culture – a business culture devoted to innovation and the enrichment of their customers’ lives. May each of us learn from Jobs’ example. Our success will always be dependent on making our customers’ lives better.

Guest blogger Dennis Mathis is a long-time resident of the Four Corners who nurtures an interest in writing, marketing, technology, reading and business. About a year ago, he retired from a public relations job and is now formally self-managed. It is a harder job than he imagined it would be. He and his wife, Nancy, live in a log cabin near Lemon Lake decorated with birdhouses, and when the water is calm, they kayak along Lemon's graceful shoreline.